Conan (talk show)

Conan (talk show)
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Name	Conan
Genre	Late-night talk show
Creator	Conan O'Brien
Director	Allan Kartun (2010–2011), Liz Plonka (2011–2021)
Presented by	Conan O'Brien
Starring	Andy Richter, Jimmy Vivino and The Basic Cable Band/Conan Band
Country	United States
Language	English
Num seasons	11
Num episodes	1,460
Location	Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank (2010–2014), CBS Television City (2014–2021)
Runtime	42 minutes
Network	TBS
First aired	November 8, 2010
Last aired	June 24, 2021

Conan (talk show) was an American late-night talk show hosted by comedian and writer Conan O'Brien. Airing on TBS from 2010 to 2021, the program followed O'Brien's tenure on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and his brief stint hosting The Tonight Show. The show blended traditional late-night talk show elements with O'Brien's signature absurdist humor, featuring celebrity interviews, musical performances, and a variety of pre-taped comedy segments. It served as O'Brien's primary platform for a decade, building a dedicated fanbase and earning several awards, including Primetime Emmy Awards.

Format and segments

The show typically opened with a monologue from Conan O'Brien, often addressing current events with a self-deprecating and surreal comedic style. This was followed by scripted comedy bits, many of which evolved into recurring fan-favorite segments. Notable recurring features included "Clueless Gamer," where O'Brien and sidekick Andy Richter provided hilariously inept commentary while playing video games like those from Nintendo or Rockstar Games, and "Conan Without Borders," which later expanded into a standalone travel series. The interview portion featured conversations with a wide array of guests from film, television, and music, including actors like Tom Hanks, Will Ferrell, and Florence Pugh, and musicians such as Jack White and Billie Eilish. The program closed with a performance from The Basic Cable Band, led by guitarist Jimmy Vivino, and later the Conan Band, often accompanying musical guests ranging from Paul McCartney to Twenty One Pilots.

Production history

The show was announced in April 2010, shortly after the conclusion of the nationally televised Tonight Show conflict between O'Brien and NBC. TBS secured the program as a cornerstone of its late-night lineup, pairing it with Lopez Tonight. "Conan" premiered on November 8, 2010, from Stage 15 at Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank. In 2014, production moved to Stage 43 at CBS Television City in Los Angeles. In 2018, the show was shortened from an hour to 30 minutes, focusing more on interviews and comedy pieces. In 2020, production adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic with remote episodes filmed from O'Brien's home. O'Brien announced in November 2020 that the show would conclude in June 2021, making way for a new variety series on HBO Max. The final episode aired on June 24, 2021, concluding an 11-season run.

Critical reception and legacy

"Conan" received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise directed at O'Brien's resilient comedic voice and the show's innovative digital shorts. It was nominated for numerous Primetime Emmy Awards, winning for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media. The show is widely credited with pioneering digital content in the late-night space; segments like "Clueless Gamer" became viral sensations on YouTube, attracting a younger demographic. Its "Conan Without Borders" specials, featuring travels to countries like Armenia, Ghana, and South Korea, were lauded for their cultural curiosity and humor, earning a Peabody Award in 2018. The program's legacy is marked by its successful transition to cable, its embrace of online platforms, and its role in sustaining O'Brien's status as a defining figure in American comedy.

Notable episodes and moments

The series featured many memorable episodes, beginning with its high-rated premiere guest Seth Rogen and musical guest Jack White. A 2013 episode featured a legendary, laughter-filled interview with actor Bill Burr that became an internet staple. In 2015, O'Brien filmed a remote segment at San Diego Comic-Con interviewing fans in elaborate Marvel Comics and Star Wars costumes. The 2018 episode featuring a prolonged, absurdist sketch with Timothy Olyphant as a life coach was critically acclaimed. A notable 2019 installment included an interview with Michelle Obama discussing her memoir *Becoming*. The show's pandemic-era episodes, including one where O'Brien interviewed Adam Sandler from their respective homes, were noted for their inventive intimacy. The emotional series finale featured a surprise appearance by Steve Carell and a final performance from the Conan Band.

International broadcasts

While produced primarily for an American audience on TBS, "Conan" achieved a significant international viewership through syndication. In Canada, the program aired on CTV Comedy Channel and later CTV 2. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, episodes were broadcast on Comedy Central UK. The show was also available in Australia on Fox8 and later Comedy Channel (Australia). In many territories, the popular "Conan Without Borders" specials received additional airplay on networks like TNT Latin America. The show's global reach was amplified by its prolific and widely shared online content, making O'Brien a recognizable comedic figure in markets well beyond the United States.

Category:2010 American television series debuts Category:2021 American television series endings Category:TBS original programming Category:American late-night talk shows